Nightpaw opened his eyes to find the moors awash with warm yellow light, not a single breeze stirring the tall stalks of grass. Mouth stretching wide in a grin, he bounded through them, excitement making his paws tingle.

He arrived at the old MoorClan camp heartbeats later and swivelled his ears as he searched for his mentor. His mind buzzed with questions and his heart thudded eagerly, paws kneading the ground as he waited.

"You look rather enthusiastic tonight," Sootstar commented as he leaped up onto the largest rock in the clearing.

"I have so many questions," Nightpaw replied immediately, bouncing to his paws. "Like what medicine cats were like in the Old Life, and what Moonwaters was like, and what sorts of messages StarClan would send to help the Clans, and what signs and prophecies they sent you before the Masked Uprising, and - "

The apprentice stopped abruptly as a new form materialized before him, this one much more faded than Sootstar. The she-cat's fur also shone with stars, but her shape seemed less solid, the brown tabby and white fur lacking colour.

"This is Finchwatcher," Sootstar explained, jumping down to join them. "She was MoorClan's medicine cat at the time of the rebellion."

Finchwatcher dipped her head. "I can answer your questions, Nightpaw," she said, her voice so soft the tom could hardly hear it. She seemed very far away even though she stood right before him.

"Please," he said breathlessly, curiosity making his pelt burn. "I want to know everything."

"Very well," she said, beginning to pace before him. "The medicine cats of old were compassionate, always willing to help their Clanmates. They took care of their patients with the utmost skill and patience, and eased their pain when nothing more could be done to save them.

"Moonwaters was a place of peace, where StarClan held the best connection with their descendants. One only had to touch the waters of the pool and they would fall into a deep sleep, appearing in StarClan's hunting grounds to speak with them."

Nightpaw's eyes widened at the mention of the water, remembering Hailwatcher's care to avoid it. Did the truth-teller believe that StarClan could make contact through Moonwaters?

"The prophecies and omens we received from StarClan before the Uprising were sadly overlooked," Finchwatcher continued, still pacing. "StarClan told us of a night when the moon would disappear into darkness and the Clans with it. The 'masked moon', they called it, but no one knew when it would come. When it did, it was too late."

"The heather flowers," Sootstar added sadly. "I let my love for Heatherfur blind me. StarClan tried to warn me, but I was too far gone to see the treachery."

Finchwatcher lay her long tabby tail over the former leader's shoulders comfortingly, eyes gazing sadly at Nightpaw.

"Now, StarClan has been eradicated from the minds of DarkClan's members. Only the truth-tellers remember us and, with each passing generation, more and more of StarClan is forgotten and fades into nothing."

The truth-teller's apprentice blinked, realizing what Finchwatcher's faded form meant. How many other cats in StarClan were nothing more than a sliver of their former selves?

"But you believe in us," Finchwatcher continued. "You are the first in a long time to dream. Perhaps there are more like you?"

The questioning tone caught Nightpaw off-guard. His first thought was to say no; after all, who else in DarkClan would possibly believe in StarClan? Then, he thought of his last visit with Sootstar and his plea to see his Clanmates as StarClan perceived them.

Cinderpaw, he realized with some trepidation, might believe. Her kindness did shine through, after all. Wrenpaw's curiosity might make her believe too, and Bramblepaw's fervour for knowledge. Maybe Mothpaw and Cedarheart would believe, if only in the hope it might better their fate.

"Perhaps," the tom replied and, for a brief moment, Finchwatcher's image seemed to brighten.

"We know this is dangerous," the she-cat began. "But do you think it would be possible..."

"Can we really ask him to do this," Sootstar asked quietly, cutting in. The two StarClan cats exchanged a glance while Nightpaw looked on, pelt bristling in both apprehension and excitement.

"I can try," he said and the look of relief in their eyes was gratitude enough.

"Tread carefully, Nightpaw," Sootstar said, a serious expression in his amber eyes. "StarClan goes with you." The two cats bowed their heads and disappeared, leaving Nightpaw in the sunlit grasses, waiting for morning to break.

//

The first coughs of the cold season rang throughout the camp in the days following Nightpaw's undertaking. First Birchfrost, then Crowkit, and then a string of warriors and caretakers including Whitenose, Goosepelt and Maplefeather. Cedarheart and Mothpaw traversed the camp with hunched shoulders, their movements disjointed and their eyes constantly moving, as if searching for danger.

Nightpaw found himself in the nursery often, telling Webkit stories to keep her mind occupied as her mother and littermate lay sick in the medicine den. The little grey she-cat was just over a quarter moon old and her blue eyes, recently opened, took in the world with wonder. She hardly spoke, giving little squeaks or grunts to signal her enjoyment or displeasure and Nightpaw found they could communicate quite well with each other.

Hailwatcher approached in the middle of Nightpaw's telling of Viperstrike, a powerful warrior of DarkClan who strategized the defeat of an entire army of rogues on his own, and the apprentice acknowledged him with a nod. Seeing his mentor's agitation, he gave Webkit a little nudge, sending her in the direction of her caretakers.

"I'll be back," he assured her, watching as she stumbled her way towards Snowdapple. The she-cat nodded, picking the kit up and joining Sedgecloud where he tore at the mouse Nightpaw brought the caretakers. A fresh scar lined the brown tabby's side and the apprentice briefly wondered where and who it came from.

Hailwatcher waited for Nightpaw by the truth-teller's den and, upon the apprentice's arrival, gestured for him to enter. Surprised, the black tom did as told.

The truth-teller's den seemed small from the outside but inside was spacious. The old tree had been hollowed out by insects many seasons ago and moss now lined its interior, providing a soft and warm space. Settling on the floor of the den, Nightpaw turned to Hailwatcher expectantly.

"Leafbare draws ever near," Hailwatcher said, looking out the entrance of the den. A couple of leaves flew by, the strong wind bringing them to High Rocks all the way from RockClan's old territory.

"And with leafbare," he continued, "comes sickness. Herbs are nowhere to be found. Prey becomes scarce. Training and hunting becomes more difficult."

Nightpaw waited patiently for his mentor to start whatever lesson he had planned for today.

"Snowpaw was a rather bright apprentice," Hailwatcher began. "Her hunting skills were particularly good and the Clan believed she would make a fine warrior one day. But, instead of using those skills to help her Clan, she used them to take care of another, less fortunate being.

"She found a wounded loner on DarkClan land. It was leafbare and the loner had little chance of survival. So, she began to bring him prey, slowly nursing him back to health. It was nearly newleaf when an apprentice on their warrior assessment caught the loner and brought him back as a prisoner.

"In an effort to save his own life, the loner ratted Snowpaw out, and she was thrown into the prisoner cave along with him. Both ended up dead."

By now, Nightpaw was used to Hailwatcher's abrupt lesson endings and knew what followed. He braced himself for his mentor's question about the moral of the story.

Instead, the black and white spotted tom asked, "Tell me, do you know what order kill is to be taken from the freshkill pile?"

Nightpaw, unsure, shook his head. In truth, he hadn't been aware there was an order.

The truth-teller narrowed his eyes. "The leader is always first, as they must be the strongest. Then, the truth-teller, as they are only one. Then the kits, the guardians and the warriors, then apprentices and healers and, finally, the caretakers. Do you know why that is?"

"Kits are the future of the Clan," Nightpaw replied without hesitation. "Guardians and warriors are the protectors of the Clan, and apprentices their future replacements. Healers need to be able to perform their duties to help the Clan. And caretakers..." He drifted off, unsure how to answer.

He fell back as Hailwatcher leaped onto him, squirming beneath the giant tom's paws. Nightpaw shivered in fear as his mentor's eyes grew angry.

"Caretakers are disposable," he spat. "We can afford the warriors to help take care of kits if the caretakers die, but caretakers can not take the spots of warriors should they lose their lives. If I catch you bringing the caretakers prey once more, you will be the one who is punished. I will not have my apprentice breaking the rules of DarkClan."

Heart in his dry mouth, Nightpaw nodded his head. He had brought the caretakers a mouse simply because the freshkill was piled high and he couldn't stand having Sedgecloud watch him while the apprentice told Webkit stories.

Hailwatcher let the smaller tom up, shaking out his spotted pelt and flattening the white fur on his chest with a swipe of his tongue. The truth-teller looked as if nothing had happened. Nightpaw attempted to look the same.

"You may return to the nursery to see Webkit," Hailwatcher said with a dismissive flick of his tail. "I will join you shortly."

Nightpaw nodded mutely and dashed out of the truth-teller's den. Webkit sat outside the nursery, staring up at the dark blue sky with kitten-blue eyes.

"Up," she said as Nightpaw approached and the tom couldn't help but purr. Calming himself so the kit wouldn't pick up on his distress, he lowered himself to the ground. With a squeal, Webkit launched herself onto his back, her tiny claws digging into his fur as she balanced on top of him. Slowly, he got to his paws, bringing her closer to the sky above. She continued to stare at it in wonder.

"Why don't I finish that story about Viperstrike," Nightpaw said, padding towards the nursery while the kit held on tight. "It's almost bed time for you."

Webkit grunted, but a yawn escaped her tiny mouth. She dropped from Nightpaw's back, tumbling to the ground. Her nose twitched as she picked up a new scent in the nursery.

"Enjoying yourself, I see," Wrenpaw mewed, paws full of moss. "I'll be out of here soon, just needed to clean out the old bedding."

"We are," Nightpaw said as Webkit squeaked shyly, hiding behind Nightpaw's forelegs. "Just telling Webkit one last story before she goes to sleep."

Wrenpaw purred, padding over to the grey she-cat and lowering herself to her height. "Nightpaw used to tell me stories when I was a kit too. What story is he telling you?"

Webkit squeaked an answer, not yet able to fully form words. Then, distracted by a ball of moss, she bounded away.

"The story of Viperstrike," Nightpaw answered for her, watching the she-cat paw at the ball. It was twice her size, but the kit fluffed her fur up to make herself seem bigger, claws at the ready should the moss pose a threat.

Wrenpaw twitched her whiskers in amusement before sighing and turning back to her task. "I'll be out of your way soon," she promised. Nightpaw flicked his ear to show he'd heard, but a part of him wanted to tell the she-cat to stay and listen to his telling. She had always been his best audience.

"Alright, Webkit, let's finish that story," he called when Wrenpaw left the nursery, but the kit had abandoned her moss ball and disappeared. Confused, the apprentice glanced around, catching sight of Webkit at the back of the den before being knocked over and pinned to the ground. Dazed, he wondered if Hailwatcher hadn't finished his lesson.

"You won't be finishing that story," spat the cat on top of him and Nightpaw saw it was Sedgecloud, his hate-filled eyes boring into him. "That story or any other. I won't have you filling these kits' minds with your poison."

Nightpaw attempted to answer, but the tabby's paw dug into his throat, cutting off his air supply. Spluttering, the black tom thrashed beneath his attacker's weight.

"I won't be punished for your mistakes," the caretaker continued, tail lashing. "I won't be put down because I couldn't pass one test. If they think I was too weak to be made a warrior, then let them see how weak I am now after I kill the treacherous truth-teller's apprentice."

Even as black lined the edges of his vision, Nightpaw's heart skipped a beat at the possibility that Sedgecloud knew about his meetings with StarClan. But, then, would a cat like Sedgecloud even believe in StarClan, given the chance? Or would he rat Nightpaw out like the loner had Snowpaw?

The apprentice gasped for air as Sedgecloud slowly unsheathed his claws, the sharp pricks digging into his throat. He let out a strangled yowl of alarm, paws churning the air as he tried to knock the caretaker off. His breathing became more laboured, darkness threatening to overtake him.

"If not for your stupid marks, you'd probably end up where I am now," Sedgecloud sneered, pushing his claws deeper. His teeth flashed as he bared them, ready to deal the final blow.

Then, he lunged.

// DUN DUN DUN. And now the wait for next week's update begins...

I don't know about all of you, but this last week has been incredibly hectic. I almost forgot to update because I hadn't even realized tomorrow is Sunday. So here it is, all of 20 minutes early (where I am, anyway).

As a side note, is anyone else as excited about Christmas as I am?! Less than two weeks left! :D